Standby/Sleep mode with laptops

It is well known that to shift a powered on laptop could lead to HD damage (I suppose that when done carefully and for a short distance it's OK).

My question is what happens to the the hard disk drive's head when it is in sleep mode? Does it retract? Is it safe to carry the laptop with the display panel closed in sleep mode? The reason I ask is that sometimes with my netbook to move to another floor at work it might save a lot of time if you have to see somebody for say 10 minutes or if you are in a hurry.

Here is a flash graphic (open the url in a new window) that explains what happens to the hard disk head during sleep state.

Actually the graphic explains a WD technology called "securepark" which securely parks the head during hard disk's "idle" states or when hard disk sensor senses free fall.
This is also where the head is when hard disk is powered off.

Here is a flash graphic (open the url in a new window) that explains what happens to the hard disk head during sleep state.

Actually the graphic explains a WD technology called "securepark" which securely parks the head during hard disk's "idle" states or when hard disk sensor senses free fall.
This is also where the head is when hard disk is powered off.

Click to expand...

As far as I know my Asus netbook doesn't have this "sensormeter" for free falls, now reading your post, is this common practice to all laptops HDs drive heads? I'm aware that only Asus could answer, on its instructions help file it only says that the drive head retracts when the computer is turned off.

As far as I know my Asus netbook doesn't have this "sensormeter" for free falls, now reading your post, is this common practice to all laptops HDs drive heads? I'm aware that only Asus could answer, on its instructions help file it only says that the drive head retracts when the computer is turned off.

Click to expand...

What hard disk is inside the Asus. I am sure Asus does not manufacture hard drives.

No, the free fall sensor and secure park technology are available only in the newer drives by some manufacturers, so they are not standard. But all disk drives park their heads securely when they are powered off or when computer is put in sleep mode.

Thanks Raza0007, I've done some research following your suggestions and my Asus Eee 1002HA has a Seagate Momentous 5400.5 HD which according to the specifications is built for rugged conditions. I think it has the secure park technology but not the fall sensor (laptops are not supposed to be dropped anyway!)